Sonic Youth discography

The discography of American rock band Sonic Youth comprises 15 studio albums, seven extended plays, three compilation albums, seven video releases, 21 singles, 46 music videos, ten releases in the Sonic Youth Recordings series, eight official bootlegs, and contributions to 16 soundtracks and other compilations.

Sonic Youth discography
Studio albums15
Compilation albums4
Video albums6
Music videos46
EPs8
Singles21
Sonic Youth Recordings (SYR)10
Bootlegs8
Soundtrack and compilation appearances16

In 1981, Sonic Youth signed with Neutral Records, and released its eponymous debut EP Sonic Youth the next year.[1] The band's first full-length album was Confusion is Sex, released in 1983.[1] Kill Yr Idols was released the same year under the German label Zensor Records.[1] Bad Moon Rising was released two years later on Blast First, a label created specifically for Sonic Youth releases.[1] In 1986, Sonic Youth signed to SST Records and released Evol later the same year. The album gained the band increasing critical acclaim and exposure, and the group released Sister and the double LP Daydream Nation in 1987 and 1988, respectively, the latter on Enigma Records.[1]

In 1990, the band signed to major label DGC Records, and released Goo the same year. The band's 1991 tour with the then little-known band Nirvana was documented in the film 1991: The Year Punk Broke. In 1992, Sonic Youth released Dirty. Two years later, the group released Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star, and Washing Machine the following year.[1]

Forced to start from scratch after its instruments and equipment were stolen, the band released NYC Ghosts & Flowers in 2000. Sonic Youth released Murray Street in the summer of 2002, followed in 2004 by Sonic Nurse. Rather Ripped and The Destroyed Room: B-sides and Rarities were released in 2006, the latter featuring tracks previously available only on vinyl, limited-release compilations, B-sides to international singles, and other previously unreleased material. The Eternal was released three years later in 2009.[1][2]

Studio albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[3]
AUS
[4]
BEL
[5]
FRA
[6]
GER
[7]
JPN
[8]
NLD
[9]
NOR
[10]
NZ
[11]
SWE
[12]
UK
[13]
1983 Confusion Is Sex
  • Released: February 11, 1983
  • Label: Neutral
1985 Bad Moon Rising
1986 Evol
  • Released: May 2, 1986
  • Label: SST
1987 Sister
  • Released: June 29, 1987
  • Label: SST
1988 Daydream Nation
  • Released: October 18, 1988
  • Label: Enigma
91 99
1989 The Whitey Album (as Ciccone Youth)
  • Released: January 18, 1989
  • Label: Enigma
63
1990 Goo
  • Released: June 26, 1990
  • Label: DGC
96 71 22 32
1992 Dirty
  • Released: July 21, 1992
  • Label: DGC
83 22 59 53 57 5 26 6
1994 Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star
  • Released: May 3, 1994
  • Label: DGC
34 25 87 62 65 16 27 10
1995 Washing Machine
  • Released: September 26, 1995
  • Label: DGC
58 34 38 94 91 41 39
1998 A Thousand Leaves
  • Released: May 12, 1998
  • Label: DGC
85 66 28 32 84 43 37 43 38
2000 NYC Ghosts & Flowers
  • Released: May 16, 2000
  • Label: Geffen
172 61 37 113
2002 Murray Street
  • Released: June 25, 2002
  • Label: DGC
126 78 28 48 63 45 16 77
2004 Sonic Nurse
  • Released: June 7, 2004
  • Label: DGC
64 54 23 40 89 47 98 21
2006 Rather Ripped
  • Released: June 13, 2006
  • Label: Geffen
71 40 20 25 79 41 13 46 64
2009 The Eternal
  • Released: June 9, 2009
  • Label: Matador
18 52 9 19 29 29 90 17 38 28 42
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Live albums

Year Album details Notes
1984 Sonic Death: Early Sonic 1981–1983
  • Originally released on cassette only.
1986 Walls Have Ears
  • Released: 1986
  • Label: Not
1991 Hold That Tiger
  • Released: 1991
  • Label: Goofin'
  • Recorded in 1987.
1992 Live at the Continental Club
  • Released: 1992
  • Label: Sonic Death
  • Recorded in 1986.
  • Fan club release.
2009 Battery Park, NYC July 4th 2008
  • Released: June 9, 2009
  • Label: Matador
  • Vinyl-only release (as a separate album).
  • CD version only released in Japan as a bonus disc to The Eternal.
  • Became more widely available to stream in June 2019[16]
2012 Smart Bar Chicago 1985
  • Released: November 13, 2012
  • Label: Goofin'
    2018 Chicago, IL • Cabaret Metro • August 17, 2002
    • Released: 2018
    • Label: Nugs.net
    • Digital-only release from Nugs.net
    2018 ABC Glasgow August 2007 Daydream Nation
    • Released: 2018
    • Label: Nugs.net
    • Digital-only release from Nugs.net
    2018 Chicago, IL • Cabaret Metro • November 5, 1988
    • Released: 2018
    • Label: Nugs.net
    • Digital-only release from Nugs.net
    2018 New York, NY • CBGB • December 13, 1988
    • Released: 2018
    • Label: Nugs.net
    • Digital-only release from Nugs.net
    2018 Berlin, Germany • Columbiahalle • October 21, 2009
    • Released: 2018
    • Label: Nugs.net
    • Also released as a 2x CD-R release in 2019.
    2018 Brooklyn, NY • Williamsburg Waterfront • August 12, 2011
    • Released: 2018
    • Label: Nugs.net
    • Digital-only release from Nugs.net
    2019 Los Angeles, CA • Veterans Wadsworth Theatre • May 28, 1998
    • Released: 2019
    • Label: Nugs.net
    • Digital-only release from Nugs.net
    2019 Asheville, NC • Orange Peel • August 20, 2004
    • Released: 2019
    • Label: Nugs.net
    • Digital-only release from Nugs.net
    2019 Trenton, NJ • City Gardens • May 22, 1987
    • Released: 2019
    • Label: Nugs.net
    • Digital-only release from Nugs.net
    2019 San Francisco, CA • The Warfield • March 5, 1993
    • Released: 2019
    • Label: Nugs.net
    • Digital-only release from Nugs.net
    2019 Irvine, CA • Crawford Hall • November 3, 1990
    • Released: 2019
    • Label: Nugs.net
    • Digital-only release from Nugs.net
    2019 Paris, France • Olympia • June 7, 2001
    • Released: 2019
    • Label: Nugs.net
    • Digital-only release from Nugs.net
    2020 Live In Yugoslavia 1985/1987
    • Released: 2020
    • Label: Self-released
    • Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page.
    2020 Live At Brixton Academy 1992
    • Released: 2020
    • Label: Self-released
    • Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page.
    2020 Perspectives Musicales - Live At Cat's Cradle 2000
    • Released: 2020
    • Label: Sonic Youth Records
    • Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page.
    2020 Live At All Tomorrows Parties 2000
    • Released: 2020
    • Label: Self-released
    • Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page.
    2020 Live in Denver 1986
    • Released: 2020
    • Label: Self-released
    • Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page.
    2020 World Trade Center Benefit 2001
    • Released: 2020
    • Label: Self-released
    • Recorded at the Bowery Ballroom NYC on Oct. 7th, 2001.
    • Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page.

    Demo albums

    Year Album details Notes
    1991 Goo Demos
    • Released: 1991
    • Label: Sonic Death
    • Fan club release.
    • Collection of demos for the Goo album.
    2016 Spinhead Sessions 1986
    • Released: June 17, 2016
    • Label: Goofin'
    • Rehearsal recordings made in preparation for the Made in USA soundtrack album.

    Extended plays

    Year EP details Notes
    1982 Sonic Youth
    • Released: March 1982
    • Label: Neutral
    • Considered by the band to be their first studio album.
    1983 Kill Yr Idols
    • Released: October 1983
    • Label: Zensor
    1987 Master=Dik
    • Released: November 1987
    • Label: Blast First
    • The band's official site lists the record as having possibly been released on January 22, 1988.
    1993 Whores Moaning
    • Released: February 1993
    • Label: Geffen
    • Released for Australian/New Zealand tour.
    1994 TV Shit
    1998 Silver Session for Jason Knuth
    • Released: July 14, 1998
    • Label: Sonic Knuth
    • Dedicated to Sonic Youth fan and radio DJ Jason Knuth.
    2001 In the Fishtank 9
    • Released: July 2001
    • Label: Konkurrent
    • With Instant Composers Pool and The Ex.
    2002 Kali Yug Express
    • Released: 2002
    • Label: Geffen
    2009 Sensational Fix
    • Released: January 2009
    • Label: Matador

    Compilations

    Year Compilation details Notes
    1984 Sonic Death
    • Live recordings from 1981 to 1983. Originally released on cassette only.
    1995 Screaming Fields of Sonic Love
    • Released: April 25, 1995
    • Label: DGC
    • Compilation of songs from 1982–1989. The original promo version was released in 1994.
    2006 The Destroyed Room: B-Sides and Rarities
    • Released: December 12, 2006
    • Label: Geffen
    • Compilation of various B-sides and other rare material.
    2008 Hits Are for Squares
    • Compilation of songs chosen by various celebrities, plus an original song.

    Sonic Youth Recordings (SYR) series

    Sonic Youth have released a number of mostly experimental and instrumental releases under their own label Sonic Youth Recordings. The SYR series has established a tradition where each album is released in a different language. SYR1 has song titles and album sleeve artwork all in French, SYR2 is in Dutch, SYR3 is in Esperanto, SYR4 is in English, SYR5 is in Japanese, SYR6 is in Lithuanian, SYR7 is in Arpitan, SYR8 is in Danish, SYR9 is in French, and AUG5 is in English.

    Year Album details Notes
    1997 SYR1: Anagrama
    • Released: June 10, 1997
    SYR2: Slaapkamers met slagroom
    • Released: September 2, 1997
    1998 SYR3: Invito al ĉielo
    • Released: February 24, 1998
    1999 SYR4: Goodbye 20th Century
    • Released: November 16, 1999
    2000 SYR5: ミュージカル パ一スペクティブ
    • Released: August 29, 2000
    2005 SYR6: Koncertas Stan Brakhage prisiminimui
    • Released: December 6, 2005
    2008 SYR7: J'Accuse Ted Hughes
    • Released: April 22, 2008
    • It is a vinyl-only release.
    SYR8: Andre Sider Af Sonic Youth
    • Released: July 28, 2008
    2011 SYR9: Simon Werner a disparu
    • Released: 2011
    2020 AUG5: Perspectives Musicales
    • Released: 2020
    • It is a digital-only release. Live recording At Cat's Cradle 2000.

    Official bootlegs

    Year Title Notes
    1986 Walls Have Ears
    • Live shows from 1985.
    1988 Stick Me Donna Majick Momma
    • Bootleg 7" single. The title track being a studio recording from 1985 and an early version of "Expressway to Yr. Skull", while track two was recorded live on October 30, 1983 in Berlin, Germany.
    1990 4 Tunna Brix
    • Four covers of songs by The Fall (one being a cover of a cover of a Kinks song), recorded at the BBC for the John Peel show.
    1991 Goo Demos
    • Collection of demos for the Goo album.
    Hold that Tiger
    • Live show from 1987.
    1992 Live at the Continental Club
    • Live show from 1986, released through the band's fan club.
    1994 Live in Bremen
    • Picture disc.
    • Possibly released in 1995.
    1995 Live Venlo, Holland December 27, 1983
    • Live show from 1983, released through the band's fan club.
    • Actual recording date is November 27, 1983.
    Blastic Scene
    • This bootleg had a semi-official release. The recorded show was held on July 14, 1993 in Lisbon, Portugal @ Campo Pequeno.

    Singles

    Note: Sonic Youth have never charted on the Billboard Hot 100.
    Year Single Peak chart positions Album
    US
    Alt.

    [17]
    AUS
    [4]
    IRL
    [18]
    UK
    [13]
    1984 "Death Valley '69" Bad Moon Rising
    1985 "Flower/Halloween"
    1986 "Flower / Satan Is Boring"
    "Starpower" Evol
    "Into the Groove(y)" (as Ciccone Youth) The Whitey Album
    1988 "Teen Age Riot" 20 Daydream Nation
    "Silver Rocket"
    1989 "Candle"
    "Providence"
    "Touch Me I'm Sick/Halloween" split with Mudhoney
    1990 "Kool Thing" 7 24 81 Goo
    "Disappearer"
    1991 "Dirty Boots"
    1992 "100%" 4 67 28 Dirty
    "Youth Against Fascism" 52
    1993 "Sugar Kane" 26
    "Drunken Butterfly"
    1994 "Bull in the Heather" 13 90 24 Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star
    "Superstar" 26 45 If I Were a Carpenter
    1995 "The Diamond Sea" Washing Machine
    1996 "Little Trouble Girl" 81
    1998 "Sunday" 72 A Thousand Leaves
    2000 "Nevermind (What Was It Anyway)" NYC Ghosts & Flowers
    2003 "Kim Gordon & The Arthur Doyle Hand Cream" split with Erase Errata
    2006 "Helen Lundeberg/Eyeliner" Rather Ripped
    "Incinerate"
    "Beautiful Plateau" The Destroyed Room
    2019 "Bull in the Heather" Battery Park, NYC: July 4th 2008
    "—" denotes releases that did not chart.

    Music videos

    Year Title Director
    1985 "Death Valley '69" Richard Kern
    1986 "Shadow of a Doubt" Kevin Kerslake
    1987 "Beauty Lies in the Eye"
    1988 "Teen Age Riot" Sonic Youth
    "Silver Rocket" Charles Atlas
    "Providence" Peter Fowler
    Sonic Youth
    "Candle" Kevin Kerslake
    "Addicted to Love" (as Ciccone Youth) Kim Gordon
    "Macbeth" (as Ciccone Youth) Dave Markey
    1990 "Kool Thing" Tamra Davis
    "Disappearer" Todd Haynes
    1991 "Dirty Boots" Tamra Davis
    "Tunic (Song for Karen)" Tony Oursler
    "Mary-Christ" Steve Shelley
    "Mote" Ray Agony
    "My Friend Goo" Dave Markey
    Joe Cole
    Kim Gordon
    Thurston Moore
    "Mildred Pierce" Dave Markey
    "Cinderella's Big Score"
    "Scooter + Jinx" Richard Kern
    "Titanium Expose" Phil Morrison
    1992 "100%" Tamra Davis
    Spike Jonze
    "Youth Against Fascism" Nick Egan
    1993 "Sugar Kane"
    "Drunken Butterfly" Stephen Hellweg
    "Swimsuit Issue" Morty
    1994 "Bull in the Heather" Tamra Davis
    Kim Gordon
    "Superstar" Dave Markey
    1995 "Little Trouble Girl" Mark Romanek
    "The Diamond Sea" Spike Jonze
    Lance Bangs
    Dave Markey
    Steve Paine
    Angus Wall
    1998 "Sunday" Harmony Korine
    "Hoarfrost" Lee Ranaldo
    1999 "Piano Piece No. 13 (Carpenter's Piece)" Sonic Youth
    2000 "Nevermind (What was it Anyway)" Kim Gordon
    Jim O'Rourke
    Chris Habib
    2002 "The Empty Page" Thurston Moore
    Chris Habib
    "Disconnection Notice" Tom Surgal
    2004 "Peace Attack" Chris Habib
    "I Love You Golden Blue" Dave Markey
    2006 "Incinerate" Claire Denis
    "Do You Believe In Rapture?" Braden King
    "Jams Run Free" Claire Denis
    "Reena" Braden King
    2009 "Sacred Trickster" Tom Surgal
    "What We Know" Chris Habib

    Soundtracks, tributes and other compilation appearances

    Year Title Track(s)
    1986 Sub Pop 100 "Kill Yr Idols"
    1988 Fast 'n' Bulbous – A Tribute to
    Captain Beefheart
    OST
    "Electricity" (by Captain Beefheart)
    1988 Sgt. Pepper Knew My Father "Within You Without You" (by The Beatles)
    1988 The Melting Plot "I Am Right" (by Saccharine Trust)
    1989 The Bridge: A Tribute to Neil Young "Computer Age" (by Neil Young)
    1990 Pump Up the Volume OST "Titanium Exposé"
    1992 Fortune Cookie Prize: A Tribute
    to Beat Happening
    "Black Candy" (by Beat Happening)
    1993 Judgment Night OST "I Love You Mary Jane" with Cypress Hill
    1994 If I Were a Carpenter "Superstar" (by The Carpenters)
    DGC Rarities Volume 1 "Compilation Blues"
    1995 My So-Called Life OST "Genetic"
    Made in USA OST Original Score.
    1997 SubUrbia OST Three original songs and one from Thurston Moore solo album.
    Nowhere OST "Hendrix Necro"
    1999 Pola X OST "Blink".
    2002 Demonlover OST Eight original songs.
    2003 You Can Never Go Fast Enough
    2004 Hidros 3 (To Patti Smith)
    with Mats Gustafsson
    2006 From the Kitchen Archives No. 3 –
    Amplified: New Music Meets
    Rock 1981–1986
    "World Looks Red", "Shaking Hell"
    The Harry Smith Project: The Anthology
    of American Folk Music Revisited
    "Dry Bones" with Roswell Rudd
    2007 Like a Hurricane: A Tribute to Neil Young "Computer Age" (by Neil Young) same recording as above
    I'm Not There OST "I'm Not There"
    2008 Juno OST "Superstar"
    2011 SYR9: Simon Werner a disparu OST Original score

    Video releases

    Year Video details Notes
    1985 Live at Stache's
    • Released: 1985
    • Label: Altavistic (ATV #2)
    1991 Goo
    • Released: 1991
    • Label: DGC (DGC #V-39508)
    1992 Gila Monster Jamboree
    • Released: 1992
    • Label: Sonic Death (SD #13005)
    1993 1991: The Year Punk Broke
    • Released: 1993
    • Label: DGC (DGC #V-39518)
    • Documentary featuring various alternative rock bands, mostly Sonic Youth.
    1995 Screaming Fields of Sonic Love
    • Released: 1995
    • Label: DGC (DGC #V-39550)
    • Collects all of the band's pre-DGC music videos and a couple of live performances.
    2004 Corporate Ghost: The Videos: 1990–2002
    • Released: June 8, 2004
    • Label: Geffen (GEF #75409)
    • Compilation DVD of the band's Geffen-era videos, from 1990–2002.
    • Certified gold in Canada.[19]

    References

    General

    • "Sonic Youth – Discography". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 2, 2008. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
    • "Sonic Youth". Allmusic. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
    • "Sonic Youth home page". Sonic Youth. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
    • "Sonic Youth : Releases". Geffen Records. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved April 12, 2008.

    Specific

    1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Sonic Youth > Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved May 4, 2008.
    2. Maher, David. "Sonic Youth Unveil Rarities Comp Tracklist". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on December 28, 2007. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
    3. "Sonic Youth Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2008.
    4. Australian (ARIA Chart) peaks:
    5. "Sonic Youth Belgian Album Charting". Ultratop.be. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
    6. "Sonic Youth French Album Charting". lescharts.com. Retrieved April 5, 2008.
    7. "Sonic Youth Germany Chart history". offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
    8. "Sonic Youth Japanese Album Charting". Oricon. Retrieved October 10, 2008.
    9. "Sonic Youth Dutch Album Charting". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved April 5, 2008.
    10. "Sonic Youth Norwegian Album Charting". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
    11. "Sonic Youth New Zealand Charting". charts.nz. Retrieved April 5, 2008.
    12. "Sonic Youth Swedish Album Charting". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
    13. "Sonic Youth Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
    14. "British album certifications – Sonic Youth – Goo". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 12 November 2018. Select albums in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Goo in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.CS1 maint: others (link)
    15. "Walls Have Ears". sonicyouth.com. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
    16. "Sonic Youth - Spotify". Spotify. June 2019.
    17. "Sonic Youth Chart History: Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
    18. "Sonic Youth Irish charts". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved April 18, 2008. Note: User must define search parameters, i.e. "Sonic Youth".
    19. "Canadian Recording Industry Association – Search Certification Database". Canadian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on May 1, 2010. Retrieved July 10, 2008. Note: User must define search parameters as "Sonic Youth".

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